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Understanding the impact of Covid-19 on young people across the UK: An evidence synthesis
March 2023
Between October 2021 and March 2022 the Poverty and Inequality Commission and the Social Mobility Commission commissioned this rapid evidence review from Learning and Work Institute on the impact of Covid-19 on young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds or at risk of poor social mobility. This report, analysis and findings were developed in collaboration with the Social Mobility Commission under the co-chairship of Sandra Wallace and Steven Cooper in 2021.
Download: Understanding the impact of Covid-19 on young people across the UK: An evidence synthesis (pdf)
Response by Experts by Experience Panel – Cost of Living Impact on Rural Communities in Scotland
February 2023
A working group of the Experts by Experience Panel of the Poverty and Inequality Commission responded to the UK Parliament Scottish Affairs Committee’s call for evidence on ‘Cost of living: impact on rural communities in Scotland.’
Read the Experts by Experience submission (February 2023)
Response to Scottish Government Equality Evidence Strategy Consultation
October 2022
The Poverty and Inequality Commission responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on its Equality Evidence Strategy.
Read the Commission’s response to the Equality Evidence Strategy Consultation (October 2022)
Poverty and Inequality Commission – Briefing on the cost of living crisis
October 2022
The Poverty and Inequality Commission has published a briefing on the cost of living crisis. The briefing draws on the Commission’s visits to community organisations between June and August, and discussions with the Commission’s Experts by Experience Panel.
Download: Poverty and Inequality Commission – Cost of living briefing
Poverty and Inequality Commission Cost of Living Advice to Scottish Government
September 2022
The Poverty and Inequality Commission has published its advice to the Scottish Government on the cost of living crisis. In May 2022, the Commission was asked by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government to provide advice on actions that the Scottish Government could take in the short, medium and long term to support those most at risk with the cost of living crisis.
While most of the powers to act on the cost of living crisis lie with the UK Government, the Scottish Government has an important role in supporting households in Scotland. The Commission provided its initial advice to the Scottish Government in June 2022, followed by further advice in August 2022.
The initial advice focused on action that the Scottish Government could take in the short term to quickly provide support to households that were missing out on existing UK Government support with the cost of living, or receiving insufficient support for the costs they face. The final advice looked at medium to longer term options that could support households through the winter and beyond.
Download: Cost of living – Initial advice from PIC to SG – 14 June 2022
Letter to the Scottish Commission on Social Security
July 2022
A letter from the Poverty and Inequality Commission to Dr Witcher, Scottish Commission on Social Security on Low Income Winter Heating Assistance Regulations.
Read the letter to the Scottish Commission on Social Security (July 2022)
The Poverty and Inequality Commission Annual Report 2021-2022
June 2022
The Poverty and Inequality Commission has published its Annual Report for 2021-2022. The Annual report covers the period from 1 April 2021 until 31 March 2022 and looks back at the work the Commission has carried out in the last 12 months and how it aligns with the Commission’s strategic priorities. It also sets out how the Commission has spent its budget and the research it has commissioned.
Download: Annual Report – Poverty and Inequality Commission – 2021-2022
Download: Annual Report Poverty and Inequality Commission 2021-2022 (Easy Read PDF)
Poverty & Inequality Commission Child Poverty Scrutiny Report 2021-22
June 2022
The Poverty and Inequality Commission has published its Child Poverty Scrutiny Report 2021-22. The report sets out the Commission’s comments on Scottish Government’s progress towards meeting the child poverty targets. It was prepared for the Scottish Government in May 2022, in order to inform the Scottish Government’s child poverty progress report. This report draws on the work done by the Commission’s Experts by Experience Panel, and work with children and young people, carried out in partnership with the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS) and Aberlour, to think about progress in reducing child poverty so far.
The reports finds that the action taken so far is very unlikely to be enough to meet the 2030 child poverty targets, but that the commitments made in the 2022-2026 Child Poverty Delivery Plan should help the Scottish Government make progress. Further action is needed now to deliver the kinds of the transformative policies that will be required in order to meet the 2030 targets.
Download: Poverty and Inequality Commission Child Poverty Scrutiny Report 2021-2022
Download: Child Poverty Scrutiny Executive Summary 2021-22
Download: Child Poverty Scrutiny Report 2021-22 (Easy Read PDF)
The Scottish Government progress report can be found here
Letter to the Scottish Commission on Social Security – Scottish Child Payment and Best Start
June 2022
A letter from the Poverty and Inequality Commission to Dr Witcher, Scottish Commission on Social Security on Best Start Food, Best Start Grants and the Scottish Child Payment (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022.
Read the letter to the Scottish Commission on Social Security (June 2022)
Response to Draft Rented Sector Strategy Consultation
April 2022
The Commission responded to the Draft Rented Sector Strategy Consultation, drawing primarily on discussions with the Commission’s Experts by Experience Panel.
Read the Commission’s response to the Rented Sector Strategy (April 2022)